In the last three games, the Orioles beat two of their chief tormentors. On Sunday, they defeated Jon Lester, who’d won 14 of his first 15 starts against them, and on Tuesday, Zach Britton bested Dettoit Tigers uberstar Justin Verlander.

For years, Verlander has toyed with the Orioles, winning his first eight decisions against them. It’s changed.

The Orioles knocked Verlander out after five innings in a 5-2 win over the Tigers before 34,706 at Comerica Park.

Verlander (8-5) allowed two home runs, a two-run shot by J.J. Hardy in the fourth and a three-run homer by Adam Jones in the fifth.

“I guess it shows you we’re a different club, but for us I didn’t know that stat or anything. I’m sure a lot of the guys in this clubhouse didn’t know, so we didn’t go into the game thinking that we don’t have a chance. It’s nice to beat [them] any time you’re facing a guy like Verlander, it’s nice to get a win for sure,” Hardy said.

Hardy’s was his third in his last two games against Verlander, but Jones was 2-for-26 when facing him before the home run.

“Not many people have success against Verlander in the first place,” Jones said. “Whatever you can get off that guy is a plus because he’s a very stingy pitcher out there.”

Britton (1-1) was called up from Norfolk for the start because Jason Hammel was still weak from stomach virus, and he ran his record against Detroit (39-30) to 3-0.

He allowed just one run, a leadoff homer to Matt Tuiasosopo in the fifth, on five hits in 5 ½ innings. Britton walked three and struck out one.